Meeting provides chance to spread message about local focus

Saturday

Apr 20, 2013 at 12:01 AM

One of the best things about attending a luncheon meeting at the J. Smith Young YMCA involves the opportunity to eat some of the Y's famous yeast rolls.

Chad Killebrew

One of the best things about attending a luncheon meeting at the J. Smith Young YMCA involves the opportunity to eat some of the Y's famous yeast rolls.I enjoyed not only the yeast rolls but also the baked spaghetti, salad and pecan pie Thursday when I spoke to the Lexington Kiwanis Club. Parker McLendon, who attends the same church as I do, asked me to speak to the group.Public speaking terrifies some people, but I've always enjoyed it. When I first became editor in early 2006, I spoke to a few groups in the county. Participants in Leadership Davidson County, a program sponsored by the Lexington and Thomasville area chambers of commerce, also have heard me a few times. In addition, I used to lead tours of our building for school groups. But that doesn't occur very often anymore, since we no longer print The Dispatch in Lexington.So I looked forward to speaking to the Kiwanis Club and sharing some of my thoughts about The Dispatch and the newspaper industry in general. The fact Parker brought me a bottle of Cheerwine, since I had mentioned my love for the beverage to him for his introduction, was just icing on the cake.I took advantage of modern technology, too, and decided to put my notes on my iPhone. Normally I would have typed something on a piece of paper. But my sister, a Presbyterian minister, mentioned she now uses her iPad for her notes, so I thought I'd give it a try. It worked well, although I need to keep the phone in an awake state longer so the screen doesn't go blank while I'm speaking.Many of the points I made would be familiar to readers of this column. I always like to begin talks by polling those in attendance about how they receive news, and I was pleased that most read The Dispatch, either in print or online. News is also available through our mobile application, Facebook page and Twitter feed, too.That's quite a change from when I started in 1989. A printed edition that arrived between lunch and supper was the only product The Dispatch produced. Today, we use a variety of mediums and products to deliver news to residents of Davidson County.I strongly believe it's important for those residents to be informed about what's taking place in their community. Knowledge allows us to be more engaged in our community and know what issues exist. Civic-minded citizens can then engage their elected leaders, participate in democracy and take action to address issues that arise.That's a point I especially make when speaking to Leadership Davidson County participants. The program aims to groom aspiring leaders to take on leadership roles in their companies, agencies and volunteer positions. As leadership transitions from veterans to younger folks, the importance of knowing what issues the community faces becomes paramount.I also told the Kiwanians that I believe journalism has a strong future. Our industry, like many, has faced many challenges over the past decade. But I continue to see enthusiastic young people enter the profession, armed with a love of writing, curiosity and desire to share important information with others. This encourages me, as I think there will be a place for trained journalists for years to come.The club members asked some good questions that covered paying for news online, advertising challenges, coverage areas and more. One member spoke to me after the meeting to express his appreciation for our local focus.And that was my main point. Citizens today have multiple options to find state, national and international news. But The Dispatch remains the best source to find out what's happening in Davidson County. That ranges from city council, commissioner and school board meetings, school features, high school sports, nonprofit news and so much more.I closed with my favorite quote about journalism: "Newspapers deliver the first rough draft of history." That's an important role, and one I believe we'll continue to fulfill for many years to come.If you're involved with a group and need a speaker, give me a call. An offer of homemade yeast rolls or Cheerwine would be an enticement but not a requirement.Chad Killebrew is executive editor of The Dispatch. He can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 215, or at chad.killebrew@the-dispatch.com.